Orbitz moves further into online video with New York state series

The Chicago-based travel Web site apparently has the research to show that online video has become an important source of inspiration in travel planning. Orbitz says its numbers show that 45 percent of leisure travelers and a whopping 74 percent of affluent travelers are prompted to book travel after viewing an online viewing.

So, Orbitz (NYSE: OWW) is going the video route.

It has just completed a new online project with Empire State Development to promote travel to upstate New York during the snowy winter season. Empire State Development is the economic development arm of New York state that administers the famous “I Love New York” ad campaign.

Only this campaign isn’t all about New York City, which certainly gets its chunk of marketing dollars from Empire State Development, but rather about some of the charms and allure of upstate New York. The first round of videos, which can be found at www.orbitz.com/nystate, take viewers to the Adirondacks, billed as “an Olympic-sized experience,” and to the Catskills.

There are seven New York state videos in all, but not all are being posted online at the same time. Some of the videos will be released over the course of the joint promotion between Empire State Development and Orbitz, which runs through Jan. 31.

Richard Bangs, who hosted a series of online videos about the Cayman Islands in November, is also the Orbitz tour guide through upstate New York. The very first of the three Orbitz online video series now done showed viewers Ireland.

An Orbitz spokesman said the plan is continue to roll out more online video series as they are completed. Josh Winkler, Orbitz vice president of partner marketing, said the goal is to make Orbitz “a leader in leveraging innovative media platforms” to connect travelers to appealing destinations.